Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

jacana

noun
ja·​ca·​na | \ jə-ˈkä-nə How to pronounce jacana (audio) , ˌzha-sə-ˈnaⁿ How to pronounce jacana (audio) \

Definition of jacana

: any of a family (Jacanidae) of long-legged and long-toed tropical wading birds that frequent coastal freshwater marshes and ponds

First Known Use of jacana

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for jacana

Portuguese jaçanã, from Tupi jasanã́

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about jacana

Statistics for jacana

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for jacana

The first known use of jacana was circa 1753

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on jacana

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with jacana

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jacana

Comments on jacana

What made you want to look up jacana? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

cogent

Listen to the pronounciation of cogent

appealing forcibly to the mind or reason

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games